What Is 5W30 Motor Oil?
Motor oil is an oil that is suitable for use in a car or other vehicle's engine. Rated in cP (centipoises), the length of time the oil takes to flow through a standard opening at a set temperature, 5W-30 is the measurement of a specific type of oil.
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Ratings
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In oil grading, "W" stands for "winter" and the first number given is the winter viscosity, or ability to flow, of the oil. Single grade oils only show one number and are not suitable for automobile engines.
Multigrade
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Multigrade motor oils have two numbers. The first, the cold-weather (W) viscosity, is equivalent to the W-rating of single grade oil. The second number refers to the hot temperature viscosity of the oil. Multigrade oils contain additives which help the oil deal with the wide range of temperatures a typical engine encounters.
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5W-30
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A bottle of 5W-30 oil has a viscosity of 5cP at cold temperatures and a viscosity of 30cP when hot. Because of the additives, it should be possible to use this oil year-round.
Choosing
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The best way to know which oil to use is to read your engine manufacturer's handbook. Because different brands of oil have different formulas, it is best to always keep the same brand of oil in your engine and not mix brands.
Source
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Motor oil ratings like 5W-30 come from the SAE, or Society of Automotive Engineers. Their specifications are laid out in the standards document SAE-J300, with the most recent version in January 2009.
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References
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